Monday, March 17, 2014

Daily Fantasy Basketball: FanDuel Values for March 17th

If you play daily fantasy sports (and who doesn't these days?!), you know that one of the keys to success is uncovering undervalued players to allow you to load up on studs elsewhere.

In case you've never played daily fantasy basketball, every player has a salary and your roster cannot exceed the game's salary-cap maximum.

For FanDuel leagues, rosters consist of nine players and the salary cap is $60,000, which averages to roughly $6,667 per player. To give you an idea of the range for Monday's games, Thunder SF Kevin Durant ($11,800) has the contest's highest salary while many are tied for the lowest at the game-minimum salary ($3,500).

There are a number of benefits compared to traditional full-season re-draft leagues, such as:

you don't have to worry about being saddled by players sidelined by injury;

having a late pick doesn't rule out owning studs like Kevin Durant or LeBron James;

you get the instant gratification of winning your league(s) that night.

And you know that enthusiasm you have after drafting your fantasy team(s)? Well, you get to experience that feeling on a nightly basis with daily fantasy basketball.

OK, with the preliminary stuff out of the way, here are some value plays to consider for Monday (March 17th) FanDuel leagues:

PG - George Hill, Indiana Pacers (vs. PHI), $5,100: For the second time in three games, Hill will face the 76ers, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing point guards this season. On the 14th against the Sixers, Hill finished with 14 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two steals for 35.7 fantasy points.

PG - Phil Pressey, Boston Celtics (at DAL), $3,500: With Rajon Rondo not ready to play back-to-backs, Rondo will sit tonight after playing yesterday. That means, Pressey should get another start. In his last start (Mar. 12th vs. NYK), Pressey had 21.5 fantasy points (nine points, five assists and five rebounds).

SG - Gary Neal, Charlotte Bobcats (vs. ATL), $3,900: In three consecutive games played, Neal has scored at least 18 points and more than 21 fantasy points. The Hawks have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards this season.

SG - Willie Green, Los Angeles Clippers (at DEN), $3,600: If Darren Collison and Jamal Crawford both sit tonight, Green could be a sneaky start. With both out last night, Green played 36 minutes and scored 16.8 fantasy points. He has scored in double digits in three consecutive games and the Nuggets have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing shooting guards.

SF - Matt Barnes, Los Angeles Clippers (at DEN), $5,600: In seven of his past eight games, Barnes has scored more than 20 fantasy points and he has a nice matchup on Monday. The Nuggets have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards this season.

SF - Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Bobcats (vs. ATL), $3,900: Kidd-Gilchrist had a three-game low of 18.3 fantasy points yesterday, but he had scored 24-plus fantasy points in his previous two games. MKG has played at least 25 minutes in three straight games. The Hawks have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards.

PF - Kenneth Faried, Denver Nuggets (vs. LAC), $7,200: In nine games this month, The Manimal has averaged 37.34 fantasy points per game and has scored at least 29.6 fantasy points in eight of those games. Faried is averaging 21.89 points, 9.78 boards and a steal per game this month. The Clips have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

PF - David West, Indiana Pacers (vs. PHI), $6,800: Like Hill, West gets his second Philly matchup in three games. In their first matchup, West had 31.9 fantasy points and he has averaged 32.83 fantasy points per game over his past three.

PF - Derrick Favors, Utah Jazz (at HOU), $6,200: Against the Spurs yesterday, Favors had a double-double (career-high 28 points, 10 rebounds), three steals and scored 47.5 fantasy points. Favors has now scored at least 25 fantasy points in five consecutive games. The Rockets have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season.

PF - Kris Humphries, Boston Celtics (at DAL), $5,000: Over his past five games, Humphries has scored a minimum of 26 fantasy points in each game and has two games with 42-plus fantasy points including yesterday's game. With three double-doubles in that span, he has averaged 15.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

PF - Josh McRoberts, Charlotte Bobcats (vs. ATL), $4,900: Like Humphries, McBob was on yesterday's list and he scored 25.2 fantasy points against the Bucks with nine points, six boards and six assists. He has now scored 20-plus fantasy points in four straight games and in six of his past seven. The Hawks have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season.

C - Roy Hibbert, Indiana Pacers (vs. PHI), $5,000: Tonight's matchup is great and Hibbert is worth consideration due to it. That said,Hibbert had only four points and three rebounds against the Sixers on Friday, but he blocked five shots. In his past five games, Hibbert has scored 18.0 to 23.8 fantasy points.